For those with original style suspension

[RestoCreations]

How does it handle and ride? I would like to set something up on the ironman car that will get the power to the ground, but will ride and handle well. I dont need something that can be taken to the track. I am far more concerned with ride comfort than being able to take a 90 degree turn at 90 mph. My old replica was set up where it handled really nice in the turns, but it would knock your teeth out when I hit pot holes or divots in the road. It also had trouble getting the power to the pavement

Thanks

[Excaliber]

I wonder what kind of suspension your "old" Cobra had?? I had an Excalibur with live axle, 9" Ford, coil springs, non adjustable shocks. Handled very good, had a ride like a freakin' truck, would give me a back ache and I avoided pot holes like the plague.

Now the ERA with the Jaguar De Dion IRS rides really well and the handling is superior to the Excalibur! When I'm doing some "serious" track work, I adjust the Spax shocks to be very firm. For the street I back them off a couple of clicks. Even the "street" setting is still very good at the track! That adjustment can take you from harsh to super soft and anywhere in between. So, I think the "key" element here is in fact having easily adjustable shock settings, coupled of course with IRS. The Jaguar and the original suspension are not "that different" in the way they carry the car.

By the way, wheel hop is often a problem when it comes to putting the power down. Wheel hop can occur with ANY suspension that is not set up correctly.

[LMH]

As far as I know, ERA's rear suspension isn't a de Dion rear end. It would have to have a tube connecting the two knuckles together.

Anyway, IRS is the way to go IMO , regardless of original style or not. It's all in how it's set up and I agree that the adjustable shock set up is the ticket, coupled with a correct sway bar.
Larry

[strictlypersonl]

De Dion ehhhhh? Don't give me any ideas for our new design.

[dcdoug]

I have a CSX with an original style setup and it is mostly driven on the street. No issues at all, although I think we all avoid potholes.